Reaction, performance and response time testing system

Abstract

An athletic performance measurement system determines the reaction time, performance time and response time for an athlete to perform an event. A timing processor is in communication with two spaced-apart switches and when the athlete activates the first switch, it sets in motion a system for randomly activating a transducer that alerts the athlete to start the test. The athlete manipulates the first switch in response to detecting the activated transducer while the device measures the time it takes for this activity, thereby defining the athlete's reaction time. Then, the athlete manipulates the spaced apart second switch while the system monitors the time it takes to perform this task, thereby defining the athlete's performance time. The total response time is then calculated by adding the reaction time to the performance time. A testing protocol for performing a plurality of timed tests and averaging the scores is also disclosed.

1. An athletic performance testing system having:
 a moveable discrete housing; 
 a processor with a timing element therein operably secured to said discrete housing; 
 a first switch operably secured to the discrete housing and manually actuatable by an athlete along a defined plane; 
 a second switch operably secured to the discrete housing and manually actuatable by the athlete along the defined plane, said second switch spaced apart from said first switch by a defined distance such that said first switch and said second switch remain spaced apart by the defined distance when said discrete housing is moved; 
 a protrusion between said first and second switches extending from the defined plane such that the athlete must traverse the protrusion when transitioning from actuating the first switch to actuating the second switch; 
 a transducer operably secured to said housing; 
 said first switch, second switch and transducer operably communicating with said processor so that the timer activates upon predetermined criteria involving a random delay time prior to activation of said transducer and one of said the athlete manually manipulating at least one of said first switch and said second switch to determine a timed event. 
 
     
     
       2. The testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined criteria includes timing the time between activation of the transducer and the athlete releasing said first switch to define the timed event as the athlete's reaction time. 
     
     
       3. The testing system of  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined criteria includes timing the time between the athlete releasing said first switch and activating said second switch to define the athlete's performance time. 
     
     
       4. The testing system of  claim 3 , wherein said processor calculates a response time by adding said athlete's reaction time with said athlete's performance time. 
     
     
       5. The testing system of  claim 1 , further including memory operably secured to said processor for storing a result of said timed event. 
     
     
       6. The testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said discrete housing is substantially planar thereby allowing said discrete housing to rest on a substantially planar surface. 
     
     
       7. The testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said first switch and said second switch are aligned along a longitudinal centerline of said discrete housing thereby defining a left side and a right side of said discrete housing with said left side being a substantial mirror image of said right side. 
     
     
       8. The testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said system is in communication with an auxiliary computer. 
     
     
       9. The testing system of  claim 8 , wherein said auxiliary computer system includes a user interface for entering athlete identifying information and displaying test results obtained from said system. 
     
     
       10. The testing system of  claim 1 , wherein said transducer is a light. 
     
     
       11. The testing system of  claim 10 , wherein said light is operably received within said second switch. 
     
     
       12. The testing system of  claim 1  wherein said protrusion has a substantially vertical wall positioned toward said first switch. 
     
     
       13. A method for determining the reaction time, performance time and response time of an athlete using a timing device that has two spaced apart switches operably secured within a defined plane of a moveable, discrete housing such that the switches remain spaced apart from each other by a defined distance as the discrete housing is moved, a protrusion positioned between two spaced apart switches and extending from the defined plane, and a transducer in communication with a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:
 depressing one of the two spaced apart switches to activate the test; 
 the computer system randomly delaying the activation of the transducer to alert the athlete that the test has started and the computer system initiating a first timer when activating the transducer; 
 releasing said one of the two spaced apart switches thereby stopping said first timer to define a reaction time; 
 the computer system starting a second timer when said one of the two spaced apart switches is released; 
 traversing from the first of said one of two spaced apart switches over the protrusion to the other of said one of two spaced apart switches; 
 depressing the other of said two spaced apart switches thereby stopping said second timer to define a performance time; 
 the computer system adding said reaction time to said performance time to define a response time. 
 
     
     
       14. The method for determining reaction time, performance time and response time of an athlete of  claim 13 , further including the step of writing said reaction time, said performance time and said response time to memory. 
     
     
       15. The method for determining reaction time, performance time and response time of an athlete of  claim 14 , further including displaying said reaction time, said performance time and said response time on a computer display. 
     
     
       16. The method for determining reaction time, performance time and response time of an athlete of  claim 13 , wherein said transducer is a light and said two spaced apart switches are contact switches. 
     
     
       17. The method for determining reaction time, performance time and response time of an athlete of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second switches are substantially centrally aligned on said discrete housing thereby allowing the testing device to be used with to test either an athletes left or right hands. 
     
     
       18. The method for determining reaction time, performance time and response time of an athlete of  claim 13 , wherein said discrete housing is substantially planar that said discrete housing may rest on either a floor or table, thereby allowing the testing device to be used to test either an athlete's eye-hand reaction time or an athlete's eye-foot reaction time. 
     
     
       19. The method for determining reaction time, performance time and response time of an athlete of  claim 13 , wherein said method is performed a plurality of times with the average of each said reaction time, performance time and response time being determined.